A Sea Of Red

UP FOR A CHALLENGE: Donald Smith found motivation to make it to the pros
By DREW WILSON
Register & Bee sports editor
December 9, 2007

Donald Smith loves a challenge.

He remembers playing youth football when he was 8 years old. He heard someone say that he’d never play college football, much less make it to the pros. He wasn’t good enough, the person said.

http://www.registerbee.com/servlet/Sate ... th=!sports

Class act all the way around.

Superior athlete too. I used to try to keep up with him in Hancock whenever football and hoops were in there at the same time. Coach Williams used to try to get me to jump higher by telling me what Donald Smith did or Richard Shelton or Charles McCray.

Great story, thanks for sharing

He's a very nice person. Would always come sit with me when attending a football game past couple of years. He's fun to sit with cuz he's fully of knowlege about the game and patiently explained to me a certain play when I didn't understand. Brought his kids with him too. He's an aMAZing artist....maybe you can find his artwork online. I haven't tried looking for it yet.

Chuck Burch used to have a sketch that Donald did for him hanging over his desk when Chuck was the Liberty AD. Donald used me as one of the characters. It was a bunch of Liberty Athletes. When I interviewed for my assistant coach position back in 95, I sat in Chuck's office and I couldn't help but mention that he had a picture of me hanging over his head that was very distracting. He told me D. Smith did it. I wonder if Chuck still has that down at Gardner Webb. I should try to get it from him since he can't exactly hang it in his office.

Did the AD hire you or did the coach? I always figured the coach got who ever he wanted if the price was right.

LUconn wrote:Did the AD hire you or did the coach? I always figured the coach got who ever he wanted if the price was right.

Coach Meyer hired me but I had to talk with Chuck Burch to pass the test so to speak.

I would have guessed SCAR had to meet with Burch to discuss SCAR's salary & benefits package.

(Burch's reaction after signing SCAR)

Cider Jim wrote:I would have guessed SCAR had to meet with Burch to discuss SCAR's salary & benefits package.

(Burch's reaction after signing SCAR)

Well lets just say that my salary was commiserate with my lack of coaching experience. You guys would laugh if I told you what I was making as a coach at LU. Back then there wasn't a lot of money in the budget for little things like FOOD and CLOTHES and SHELTER .....I don't know if donald was a better football player or artist. He was very good at both. I could see him coaching at Liberty someday.

Well, SCAR, I hope you played your ETSU card in your contract negotiations!